Slender, long‑bodied cat with uniformly tawny to grey‑fawn pelage and a darker dorsal midline; underparts, muzzle and inner limbs are whitish, and the tail ends in a black tip. Adults measure 100–160 cm head–body with a 60–80 cm cylindrical tail; shoulder height 60–75 cm. Adult males average 55–90 kg, females 35–60 kg; tropical individuals tend to be lighter than temperate conspecifics. The head is relatively small with erect, rounded ears and powerful jaws; hind limbs are elongated, enabling horizontal leaps up to 6 m and vertical jumps > 2 m. Kittens are born with dark dorsal stripes and pale spots that fade by 12–14 months
males 15–25 % larger and heavier, with proportionally broader heads; females smaller, more slender.
Head–body 100–160 cm; tail 60–80 cm; shoulder height 60–75 cm
Males 55–90 kg; females 35–60 kg
8–13 yr wild; up to 21 yr captivity
Data deficient
Data deficient
Females 24 mo; males 30 mo
Aseasonal; slight birth peak April–July in Mesoamerica
82–96 days
Number of Offspring per Event: 1–6 kittens (mean 2–3); interval ≈ 24 mo
Slender, long‑bodied cat with uniformly tawny to grey‑fawn pelage and a darker dorsal midline; underparts, muzzle and inner limbs are whitish, and the tail ends in a black tip. Adults measure 100–160 cm head–body with a 60–80 cm cylindrical tail; shoulder height 60–75 cm. Adult males average 55–90 kg, females 35–60 kg; tropical individuals tend to be lighter than temperate conspecifics. The head is relatively small with erect, rounded ears and powerful jaws; hind limbs are elongated, enabling horizontal leaps up to 6 m and vertical jumps > 2 m. Kittens are born with dark dorsal stripes and pale spots that fade by 12–14 months
One of the most habitat‑generalist felids: occupies tropical rain forest, seasonal dry forest, thorn scrub, savanna, temperate conifer forest and high‑Andean páramo from sea‑level mangroves to > 4 500 m. Key requirements are sufficient cover for stalking, a stable ungulate prey base and rugged terrain or riparian corridors for denning.
Large, opportunistic mesopredator taking white‑tailed deer, peccaries, agoutis and armadillos; also consumes small prey and scavenges.
Activity pattern: crepuscular–nocturnal in most regions; may shift to diurnal at high latitudes or where jaguars are absent.
Grouping: solitary except during brief courtship (5 – 10 days) and extended mother‑kitten associations (up to 26 months).
Territoriality: adult males defend 150–600 km² ranges overlapping 2–5 female ranges; females defend 50–200 km². Boundaries advertised by scrape mounds, urine spraying and caterwauling calls.
Mating system: polygynous; a resident male may sire litters across multiple female territories.
Communication: low‐frequency screams, growls, chirps; olfactory marking at “community scrapes” facilitates asynchronous signalling.
Special behaviours: remarkable leaping ability (horizontal ≈ 6 m, vertical > 2 m); will cache large prey under leaves and return for multiple feedings; occasionally practices surplus killing when ungulates are abundant.
Exhibits the widest latitudinal range of any New‑World mammal (Yukon → Patagonia).
Can sprint 72 km h⁻¹ and leap 6 m horizontally—record for any mammal relative to size.
Predominantly crepuscular to nocturnal in Costa Rica, reducing overlap with human activity.
Possesses the most complex vocal repertoire of any small cat, including whistles, chirps and purrs; cannot roar.
Native
Increasing
